1852 Vuillemin Map of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden and Denmark

Description: An uncommon and extremely attractive 1852 map of Scandinavia by A. Vuillemin. The map covers from the Arctic Sea south to Denmark and east as far as the Gulf of Finland. Includes the modern day nations of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Two inset maps in the upper left detail Iceland and the Faroe Islands, respectively. Throughout, the map identifies various cities, towns, rivers and assortment of additional topographical details. Of particular interest is the legendary Lofoten Maelstrom in northwestern Norway. This legendary whirlpool was the inspiration for edgar Allen Poe's classic tale Descent into the Maelstrom. In reality, it is a periodic and powerful current caused by tidal variations in the region. Features a beautiful frame style border. Prepared by A. Vuillemin for publication as plate no. 10 in the 1852 Maison Basset edition of Atlas Illustre Destine a l'enseignement de la Geographie elementaire.

Cartographer: Alexandre Vuillemin (1812-1880) was a cartographer and an book editor based in Paris, France. Despite a prolific cartographic career, much of Vuillemin's life is shrouded in mystery. What is known is that his studied under the prominent French Auguste Henri Dufour (1798-1865). Vuillemin's most important work his detailed, highly decorative large format Atlas Illustre de Geographie Commerciale et Industrielle. Click here for a list of rare maps from Alexandre Vuillemin.

Cartographer:
Jean Denis Barbie du Bocage (1760 - 1825) and his son Jean-Guillaume Barbie du Bocage (1795 - 1848) were French cartographers and cosmographers active in Paris during late 18th and early 19th centuries. The elder Barbie du Bocage, Jean Denis, was trained as a cartographer and engraver in the workshops of mapmaking legend J. B. B. d'Anville. At some point Jean Denis held the post of Royal Librarian of France and it was through is associations with d'Anville that the d'Anville collection of nearly 9000 maps was acquired by French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The younger Barbie du Bocage, Jean-Guillaume, acquired a position shortly afterwards at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, in time, became its head, with the title of Geographe du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. Click here for a list of rare maps by the Barbie du Bocage family.